Trunk-fastener



(No Model.)

- P. R. DERRIGK.

TRUNK PAST-EINER.

No. 437,581. Patented sept.r so, 1890.

// @331g .72 @Milieux-'ms UNITED STATES FRANKLIN R. DERRIGK, or BRODIIEAD, WISCONSIN.

TRUNK-FASTEN ER. v

PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 437,581, dated September 30, 1890.

Application tiled December 14, 1889. Serial No. 333.700. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN R. DERRICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brodhead,in the county of Green and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Trunklabor and without any inconvenience.

Vith this obj ect in view the invention consists, essentially, in a lever fulcrumed on the body of the trunk and a link operated by the lever and adapted to engage the lid of the trunk, whereby when' the lever is vibrated the lid Awill be drawn firmly and positively onto the body.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction, which will be fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trunk provided with my improved fastener. Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the operation of the device. Fig. 3 is a vertical section. YFig. 4 is a detail view of a modification. e

In the preferred form of my invent-ion I employ metallic straps A, one of which is passed around the trunk near each end of the same, and this strap is composed of two members, one passing around the bodyof the trunk and the other one passing,r over the lid, their adjacent ends being connected by a loop B in rear of the trunk adjacent to the hinges of the same. In applying the strap to the trunk the lid of the trunk is raised and the lower member of the strap is secured to the body, while the upper member is passed over the lid and has its front end secured to the front side of the lid at such a point that when the lid is closed the strap will be drawn taut around the trunk.

The upper member of the strap is secured to the lid by a bail C, which is passed over the strap and fastened to the lid, and the strap is prevented from being drawn through the bail when the lid is closed by a stud or lug D on its front side, as clearly shown.

At its lower end on its front side the upper member of the strap is lprovided with astud or post E, the function of which will herein-- after appear. y

The lower member ofthe strap is secured to the front side of the body of the trunk by abail F, passed across the strap below the lip l G at the upper yen'dvof the same and fastened to the trunk, and an extension or supple` mental strap H is secured to the front side of the body of the trunk by a bail I, and has its lower end provided with aflip J, which rests `upon the lip G of thel lower member f the strap, anda coupling-bolt K is mounted inl aligned threaded openings in the said lips, so

as to secure the extension to the strap and tof permit them to be adjusted so as to give the vlever the desired pressure.

A shield Mis secured to the trunk over the coupling, and is provided in its upper portion with an opening or slot. N to permit access to the coupling for the purpose of adjusting the same. v

The operating-lever O is fulcrumed on the extension IlV at the upper end of the same, and a link P is pivoted to the lever near they fulcru-m ofA the same, and is provided at its free end with an opening` Q, adapted to engage the stud or post E on the upper member of j the front side ot'4 the strap, as clearly showin. Thevlever is "secured in its locked position by means of-a keeper R, loosely mounted on the lever and adapted to slide over a latch S, secured on the extension H, and the lower end of the lever is spread, as shown at T, to prevent the said keeper slipping from the lever.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the strap is dispensed with, and the lever is fulcrumed on a platea, secured on the body of the trunk, while the link is madel to engage a pin on a plate b, secured to the lid of the trunk. Thisform of the device is especially adapted for use on trunks Where bands or straps are unnecessary, and the device could be still further modified by forming the strap in a single continuous strip instead of two members, as show n and described.

In practice when the lid of the trunk is closed the strap will be drawn taut, and the lever is then swung upward, asshown in Fig. 2, so that the link may be engaged over the stud E, after which the lever is forced down- IOO ward, so as to lie over the extension H, after which the keeper on the lever is slid downward to engage the latch S, thereby securely fastening the trunk. When the lever is drawn downward, the link will -also be drawn doWnward and a pull consequently exerted on the lid of the trunk, which will effectually close the same, and the tension thereby put on the lever and the link will prevent the lid from accidentally opening. Should the strap fit so tightly around trunk as to prevent the lever being drawn entirely home after the link engages the stud, the coupling may be loosened so as to allow the extension to move slightly upward, thereby relieving the pressure on the lever and allowing it lto be turned entirely home. To open the trunk, the keeper is disengaged from the latch and the lever then raised, as will be readily understood.

It will be observed that my device is eX- tremely simple in its construction and that it is easily operated. The lever Will be effectl ually prevented from all movements when the trunk is closed by means of the keeper and the latch, and as it lies flat against the body of the trunk and occupies but little room there is almost no liability of the device being struck and injured in the transmission of the trunk. The lever moves in a plane parallel with the side of the trunk, so that its movementwill not be interrupted by the trunk, and the link carried by the lever transmits the pressure directly to the lid of the trunk, so that the device acts not only as a fastening device, but also serves to draw the lid onto the body and thereby close the trunk. The strap also aids in the fastening of the trunk, as the loop in the rear permits it to fbld when the lid is opened, and vthe strap can then be adjusted so that when the lid is closed it will be drawn tightly around the trunk.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is* v l. A trunk-fastening device consisting. es

portion of the strapsentially, of a lever fulcrumed on the body of the trunk, a latch secured upon the trunkbody, a keeper sliding on the lever and adapt-l vided with a stud E at its front end, the loop` connecting the rear ends of the members, the

lever fulcrumed on the lower member, the

link pivoted to the lever and having an opening adapted to engage the stud D, and means for fastening the lever to vthe lower as set forth.

4f. In a trunk-fastener of the character described, the combination of the latch, the lever having its lower end enlarged, the link pivoted to the lever and adapted to be engaged by the lid, and the keeper sliding on the lever and adapted to engage the latch, as set forth.

5. The combination of the lower member of the strap, the extension, the coupling-bolt connecting the extension and the strap, and the shield secured over the co11pling,as set forth. Y

6. The combination of the strap, the extension, the coupling-bolt connecting the strapv and the extension, the lever fulcrumed on the extension, and the link connecting the lever with the lid of the trunk, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANKLIN R. DERRICK.

Witnesses:

FRANK I. MOORE, AL. MURRAY.

member, 

